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Before I commit to any materials for a scratch build i wanted to get some overall input and reviews of my plan. I want to do a RotJ Fett. For my first setup, as long as this isn't a futile endevor (I'd like it to be 501st material if possible with scratch stuff) I want to avoid buying completed stuff but I would like to still retain some accuracy. Painting doesn't worry me, neither does the actual fabrication. I do plan to upgrade to a decent set of armor (probably from BobaMaker) in time when money allows.

I plan to start with some WoF templates which I've already downloaded.
Then do AFettFulloDollars Trash Can armor. I can't seem to find anyone selling molds (I can find anyway) for Sintra body armor and shaping by hand seems a bit too unreasonable so trash can Fett seems to be the way for the budget minded.

This can cover all the armor pieces save the knees which I can't seem to find a decent scratch build for but with WoF temps I could splurge for some sintra and go crazy. Maybe do something like what Ronin677 did.

I slow down at this point because I can't seem to find an easy way to cheat with the jumpsuit and flak vest, atleast without a lot of stitching. I also can't seem to find too much information on good scratch builds for the gaultlets. I'm thinking plastic sheets and some tedious bit by bit modeling might be the only answer.

Jet Pack and the EE-3 I'll do after I get all this done, same with the detail bits like the tools, scalps, and cape.

To pick up on your point of shaping sintra and it being unreasonable. I have to say that it really isn't too hard. I used 2mm sintra and I had no bother shaping it with a hair dryer. Plus I managed to do it without making any mistakes. Not trying to blow my own trumpet, just wanting to point out that it can be done without wasting precious plastic.

As for decent scratch build plans for your gauntlets. Once again you can rely on WOF's templates, and using sintra, they really do come out looking peachy. However in doing this it did take a bit of head scratching to work out how the plans would come together in producing a pair of gauntlets (sorry Alan). Unless it was me being a bit of a mong the day I started to do this.

As for the rest of your plans and questions, I'll leave it for someone else here to chime in. Good luck. And most important of all.....Have fun doing it, or it becomes nothing but a pain in the arse.

To pick up on your point of shaping sintra and it being unreasonable. I have to say that it really isn't too hard. I used 2mm sintra and I had no bother shaping it with a hair dryer. Plus I managed to do it without making any mistakes. Not trying to blow my own trumpet, just wanting to point out that it can be done without wasting precious plastic.

As for decent scratch build plans for your gauntlets. Once again you can rely on WOF's templates, and using sintra, they really do come out looking peachy. However in doing this it did take a bit of head scratching to work out how the plans would come together in producing a pair of gauntlets (sorry Alan). Unless it was me being a bit of a mong the day I started to do this.

As for the rest of your plans and questions, I'll leave it for someone else here to chime in. Good luck. And most important of all.....Have fun doing it, or it becomes nothing but a pain in the arse.

Hmm that's interesting... With my Sintra browsing I've found a bit of a draw between people who free form Fett armor and those who use molds. I'd just hate to go through the trouble of using Sintra if I can't get it perfect. Not to mention complete symmetry would be tough as well.

How would you go about making the gauntlets from Sintra? The detail and stuff would be pretty tough I'd think trying to mold/bend it out, unless maybe you layer it. To be honest, the gauntlets are the only intimidating piece to the whole suit, at least to this point. I did, however, doing even more digging around, found this thread -

i haven't started the right yet, but the technique would be the same. i used for sale signs and hot glue, with bondo seams. i was making molds of mine to copy, but the original would have worked fine on its own.

you could probably pick up a resin calc pad cheaply, since scratch building that would stink.

i haven't started the right yet, but the technique would be the same. i used for sale signs and hot glue, with bondo seams. i was making molds of mine to copy, but the original would have worked fine on its own.

you could probably pick up a resin calc pad cheaply, since scratch building that would stink.

Hah, I JUST edited my last post to add your thread i just found.

Fantastic idea. So plastic sheets, hot glue, and bondo? Sounds like a plan.

Curious - I don't know a whole lot about the casting process... So you built the gauntlet, then made a mold on the outside of it to cast in? Expensive process? Maybe I should look into this.

Although, I'm still slightly confused... After he puts all the layers of silicone on(the Rebound 25) he uses thickener to do the ridges (the keys), then moves to a shell mold of Plasti-Paste applied right to the silicone layers. So I take it he uses that master mold for the first layer at least of the Smoothcast 300 plastic to keep the silicone's rigidity. So how many layers of the plastic do you usually use for things and is the Plasti-Paste necessary for smaller things like gauntlets? It would seem like you wouldn't need a whole lot of support for something that isn't big with five layers of rubber.

I'm amazed there isn't a stickied thread about the molding process as much as folks seem to do it here.

Wow Jango72, if i didn't know any better I'd think the jet pack was cast... One of the best scratch packs I've seen so far. What exactly did you use to make it? Most of the scratch packs I seem to see are stuff like soda cans and cardboard and that looks like neither... Impressive setup. That makes me feel a bit better about a scratch build. Did you buy the jumpsuit and flakvest or sew them yourself?

And thanks again tk, once I get some more input on the other bits I'll probably start gathering mats for the thing. Hopefully sometime before I get the budget to mold we'll have a stickie with all the good info up there.

As for my jumpsuit, I bought it off of one of the members here who just so happens to live localy to me... I kinda lucked into it really. The vest I had made for me by a lady I work with. She did some top notch work on it and even gave me the patterns in case I wanted to make a new one later on.

As for my jumpsuit, I bought it off of one of the members here who just so happens to live localy to me... I kinda lucked into it really. The vest I had made for me by a lady I work with. She did some top notch work on it and even gave me the patterns in case I wanted to make a new one later on.

Cardboard, wow. I'm still shocked at how amazing that pack looks. I'm going to try your build for sure. Even the nozzles look good and they seem to be the constant spot of innacuracy on scratch builds.

I still can't seem to find a way to cheat with the jumpsuit. Maybe I ought to just bite the bullet and buy the suit/vest.

Pretty rigid material, what did you use to cut it? A coping saw or some other hand saw? Doesn't look like something a hobby knife could cut if it's what i'm thinkin it is. How did you do the main part of the body, the big rounded area?